We are to make a Commemorative Speech in which not only we inform but also to inspire the audience about the topic.

“Mathematics is the language of Physics.” “The explosion of the first atomic bomb that changes the world was bombed during the World War II in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.” ” Metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest analogy between them.”

Those mentioned earlier are just some of the first facts I obtained from attending the first weeks of my freshmen year on my dear Alma Mater, The Negros Mission Academy. During those weeks, I never thought that I can gain more than what I am expecting.

Negros Mission Academy is just a not so big Christian institution with 300 estimated students and 16 faculty and staffs at my time. Before the institution was established on 1968, it was beforehand a sugar cane field along the mountain sides that was urbanized, and then the institution was developed. Not knowing that from this former sugar cane field place, my journey as a young person will begin.

Most people think of a school is just a place where they can learn. But attending in this institution gave me the most meaningful definitions a school can be defined.

Negros Mission Academy is the place where I discovered a lot of my talents and skills by participating in many school extra curricular activities, which I benefited a lot at present times including: singing, cooking, and being good in couples of sports that I never knew that I could be. And also, it develops my leadership when the school opens the opportunity for students to be a part of the Interact Club of the Rotary Club International wherein we do community services for people in rural and some urban areas as well who need help. And by that, I learned to appreciate things great and small. I also learned how to survive in the wild and care for other people when we do camping in delicate mountains, river trekking in a mossy river, and nature walking in unfamiliar areas; such activities gave me a sense of responsibility not only for myself but also for others and also self-discipline.

Aside from its main purpose, this institution taught me to be strong spiritually. Having devotional period every Wednesday morning, helps us to meditate and have time to be fed with the spiritual food which made us stronger and ready for trials and problems along the way.

I consider Negros Mission Academy being a small institution as a privilege for me to interact easily with different kinds of people with different personalities and perspectives. By this it helped me to be flexible to any environment or situation and it also made me understand differences between people. As well as by interacting with them, my idea about what is life is become broader and colorful which actually led me to a point wherein I told myself that, “Life is a big mystery yet to be discovered.”

And lastly, I will give credit for the faculty and staff who have trusted my capability and never questioned my credibility. Through this, I have build confidence and trust for myself in anything I do. And taught me to aim higher and explore the best of me.

I never regretted spending my four years of high school in the four portals of this institution. Every moment is a treasure that I will always cherish. They just perfectly molded me as a person as what I wanted to be. All the experience, the memory, and the laughter I had during my stay will be an inspiration for me to be successful. I always dream to teach in this institution, someday, somehow, to show debt of gratitude on my dear Alma Mater, because if it’s not for them, I will not be successful as what I am.

To give honor to my my Alma mater, I will sing our school song:

“Our refuge strong to our dear youth. NMA stands with beckning’ hand.To woo the youth their life expands, to grasp God’s truth, flee Satan’s band. To rich and poor she’ll always be a refuge dear, dear NMA. Loyal and true will be to thee. Thy faith in us will be our stay. Honor and praise give to thee, our refuge dear,dear NMA. From sugar cane fields and mountain sides. And city streets where human tides. Surge through unending lnes each day. We’ll break our ties and calm your way. To follow truth and life and way and let Him in our lives hold sway…”

Negros Mission Academy is more than just a school to me, it is a home. “